Friday, August 21, 2009

Number the Stars

Number the Stars is a welcome relief from the torturous books of the 1920s. Dealing with the adult topic of the treatment of the Jews during the second world war, Lois Lowry's writing is spectacular. Lowry approaches these adult themes through the eyes of a child struggling to understand what is happening, making it a perfect book to introduce young readers to such a difficult subject. Rather than dwelling on the horror of the times, Lowry conveys the strengths of humanity through her portrayal of the Danish people's courage and kindness. No matter how many times I read it, Number the Stars is always better than I remembered.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Finally A Good Book!

I am excited that we switched up the reading order. Just finished Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Great book. My favorite part is probably the Afterword where the author explains what parts of the story are based on actual events that took place. On to The Westing Game, one of my favorites!